Success at Home: Cases Using a Ceramide Infused Barrier

Aim: Describe use of ceramide-infused skin barriers as a part of ostomy management in the home care setting.

Statement of Problem:

Ostomates experience many physical and psychological difficulties after returning home from the hospital¹ and skin complications frequently occur within the first three months after surgery. During this vulnerable time, home care clinicians can help improve patient outcomes as they are providing care for new ostomates.

Method: Three consecutive case studies selected from a single home health practice. All case studies include patient history, initial treatment modalities, and the use of a ceramide-infused ostomy barrier in the overall plan of care.

Conclusion: Home care nurses have a very important role in promoting peristomal skin health and preventing peristomal skin complications. Use of a ceramide-infused skin barrier, as part of the overall ostomy care plan, resulted in positive patient outcomes for these patients in the home care setting. Additional studies are needed to determine the use of a ceramide infused skin barrier in the home care setting.